Ruy Lopez

An encyclopedic, instructive repertoire in 6 chapters: Exchange, Open, Closed GM lines, Berlin Wall, Marshall, Steinitz and Schliemann

The queen of chess openings in a complete repertoire of 60 variations, enriched with strategic ideas, typical middlegame plans, common opponent mistakes and how to punish them tactically.

Chapter 1: Exchange Variation & Open Variation

The superior 4 vs 3 endgame of the Exchange Variation and the high-stakes battles of the Open Variation 5...Nxe4.

  1. 1. Classical Exchange Variation (5.O-O f6 6.d4) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.O-O f6…
  2. 2. Modern Exchange Variation with 5.d4 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d4 exd4…
  3. 3. Solid Exchange Variation with 5.Nc3 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.Nc3 f6…
  4. 4. Classical Open Variation (9.c3 Be7) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4…
  5. 5. Open Variation with 9.Nbd2 (Dilworth Antidote) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4…
  6. 6. Open Variation with 9.Be3 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4…
  7. 7. Open Variation: Punishing the Blunder 8...Nxe5? 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4…
  8. 8. Riga Variation (6...exd4): the precise defence 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4…
  9. 9. Open Variation: the passive 7...Be7 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4…
  10. 10. Exchange Variation: how to answer 4...bxc6 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.Nxe5 Qe7…

Chapter 2: The Closed Ruy Lopez – Main GM Lines

The historical and modern elite defences: Breyer, Zaitsev, Chigorin, Smyslov, Keres and the knight manoeuvre to f5.

  1. 11. Breyer Variation (9...Nb8 10.d4 Nbd7) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7…
  2. 12. Zaitsev Variation (9...Bb7 10.d4 Re8) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7…
  3. 13. Chigorin Variation (9...Na5 10.Bc2 c5) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7…
  4. 14. Smyslov Variation (9...h6 10.d4 Re8) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7…
  5. 15. Keres Variation (9...Nd7 10.d4 Bf6) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7…
  6. 16. Karpov Variation (9...Nd7 10.d4 Nb6) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7…
  7. 17. The Master Plan: the Nbd2-f1-g3-f5 Manoeuvre 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7…
  8. 18. Central Break and Closure with d5 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7…
  9. 19. Attack on the Queenside with a4 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7…
  10. 20. Mistake 9...Bg4?: take the bishop with hxg4 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7…

Chapter 3: The Berlin Wall

The legendary endgame of the Kasparov–Kramnik match, and the modern Anti-Berlin systems with 4.d3 adopted by Magnus Carlsen.

  1. 21. The Classical Berlin Endgame (9.h3 Ke8 10.Nc3) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6…
  2. 22. Berlin Endgame with the Immediate Check 9.Rd1+ 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6…
  3. 23. Berlin Endgame with the Fianchetto 10.b3 and Bb2 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6…
  4. 24. Modern Anti-Berlin with 4.d3 (the Carlsen Weapon) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 O-O…
  5. 25. Anti-Berlin with 4.d3 d6 5.c3 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 d6 5.c3 g6…
  6. 26. Anti-Berlin: Exchange on c6 and Control of c4 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6…
  7. 27. Berlin: Classical Reply 4...Bc5 (5.c3) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Bc5 5.c3 O-O…
  8. 28. Berlin: Direct Attack with 4.Qe2 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.Qe2 Bc5 5.c3 O-O…
  9. 29. Berlin: Punishing the Mistake 5...exd4?! 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 exd4…
  10. 30. Refuting the Mortimer Trap (4...Ne7) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Ne7 5.Nc3 c6…

Chapter 4: Marshall Attack & Anti-Marshall Systems

The cool-headed defence against Frank Marshall's sacrifice and the famous Anti-Marshall replies with 8.a4 and 8.h3.

  1. 31. Main Line Marshall Attack (8...d5 9.exd5 Nxd5) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7…
  2. 32. Marshall: Positional Variation 12.d3 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7…
  3. 33. Marshall: Cutting the Line with 15.Re4 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7…
  4. 34. Marshall Attack: the Imprecise Retreat 11...Nf6 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7…
  5. 35. Anti-Marshall with 8.a4 (the Grandmasters' Choice) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7…
  6. 36. Anti-Marshall 8.a4 with the Reply 8...Bb7 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7…
  7. 37. Anti-Marshall 8.a4 Rb8 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7…
  8. 38. Anti-Marshall with the Prophylaxis 8.h3! 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7…
  9. 39. Anti-Marshall: Punishing the Stubborn Attempt 8...d5?! 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7…
  10. 40. Immediate Anti-Marshall with 8.d3 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7…

Chapter 5: Steinitz & Arkhangelsk Defences

Handling the classical and modern Steinitz (3...d6) and the sharp Arkhangelsk Defence with the bishop on b7/c5.

  1. 41. Classical Steinitz Defence (3...d6 4.d4 Bd7) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.d4 Bd7 5.Nc3 Nf6…
  2. 42. Steinitz: the e5 Push against the Weak Pawns 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bd7…
  3. 43. Modern Steinitz: the Siesta Variation 5...f5 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.c3 f5…
  4. 44. Modern Steinitz: Main Line (5.c3 Bd7) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.c3 Bd7…
  5. 45. Modern Steinitz: Punishing the Blunder 6...Nxe4? 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.c3 Nf6…
  6. 46. Main Line Arkhangelsk Defence with 6...Bb7 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O b5…
  7. 47. Neo-Arkhangelsk Defence with 6...Bc5 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O b5…
  8. 48. Arkhangelsk: the Premature 7...Na5 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O b5…
  9. 49. Møller Variation (5...Bc5 6.c3 b5 7.Bb3) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Bc5…
  10. 50. Graz Defence (4...b5 5.Bb3 Bc5) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 b5 5.Bb3 Bc5…

Chapter 6: Schliemann Gambit & Black Surprises

A masterly refutation of the violent Schliemann Gambit (3...f5), the Bird Defence, the Cozio and the Noah's Ark Trap.

  1. 51. Main Line Schliemann Gambit (3...f5 4.Nc3) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 4.Nc3 fxe4 5.Nxe4 d5…
  2. 52. Positional Schliemann with 4.d3 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 4.d3 fxe4 5.dxe4 Nf6…
  3. 53. Schliemann: the Reply 4...Nf6 and the Pinned e4 Pawn 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.exf5 e4…
  4. 54. Bird Defence (3...Nd4 4.Nxd4 exd4 5.O-O) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 4.Nxd4 exd4 5.O-O Bc5…
  5. 55. Cozio Defence: the Mate Threat Nf6# 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nge7 4.Nc3 g6 5.d4 exd4…
  6. 56. Cozio Defence: Classical Breakthrough 4.d4 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nge7 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 g6…
  7. 57. Classical Cordel Defence (3...Bc5 4.c3) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4…
  8. 58. Lucena Defence (3...Be7 4.d4) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Be7 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6…
  9. 59. Fianchetto Defence (3...g6 4.d4 exd4 5.Bg5) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.d4 exd4 5.Bg5 Be7…
  10. 60. The Noah's Ark Trap: How to Avoid It and Win 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.d4 b5…